Heavy Metal Content in Plants of Georgia

Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2023

Identification of heavy metals spatial variability in soil and plants may provide useful information on how to manage the polluted sites. The main objective of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of selected heavy metals in soils and natural plants of Zanjan city, northwest Iran. A total of 184 composite topsoil samples (0-10 cm) and 98 natural plant samples were systematically taken from an area of about 4000 ha located around an industrial complex, covering rangeland and agricultural and industrial land uses. All samples were analyzed for their total concentration of Zn, Pb and Cd. The results showed that the average concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd in the soil samples were up to 294.2, 152.8 and 5.6 mg kg-1 , respectively, whereas in the plant samples, these values decreased to 131.4, 113.2 and 2.5 mg kg-1 , respectively. These contents are much higher than the normal range in soil and plant communities, leading to classify the studied area as a polluted site. Variography analyses revealed a similar spatial structure for the studied heavy metals in the soil and plant samples. Based on interpolated maps, the highest concentrations of the selected heavy metals in the soil and plant samples were found in the vicinity of industrial complex. These findings clearly highlight the role of industrial activities in simplifying the entrance of dangerous trace elements to the human food chain. Application of ordinary kriging technique to predict the heavy metals spatial variability in the plant community resulted in logical estimations with acceptable error values.

2018

Abstract: The study investigated the level of heavy metal contamination in plants {maize (Zea mays) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)} from thirty soil samples of three locations (Epe, Igun and Ijana) in the Ilesha gold mining area, Osun State, Nigeria. Total concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Spatial variations were observed for all metals across the locations which was adduced to pH and the clay contents of the soils of each location. The results showed that heavy metals are more concentrated in the areas that are closer to the mining site and the concentrations in soil and plants (maize and tomato) decreased with increasing perpendicular distance from the mining site, indicating that the gold mine was the main sources of pollution. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in plants (tomato and maize) samples were considered to be contaminated as As, Cd and Pb respectively ranged from 0.6 – 2.04 mg kg-1, 0.8 – 5.2 mg kg, 0.8 – 3.04mg kg-1 for tomato and respectively 0.60 – 2.00 mg kg-1, 1.50– 4.60 mg kg-1 and 0.90 – 2.50 mg kg for maize. These levelsexceeded the maximum permissible limits set by FAO/WHOfor vegetables. In conclusion, monitoring of crops for toxicheavy metals is essential for food safety in Nigeria. Keywords: Maize, tomato, As, Cd, Pb, heavy metal, soil

Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment

Different plant organs (leaves, flowers, stems or roots) from naturally occurring wild plants and trees, and cultivated plants (vegetables and fruits) were evaluated as possible bioindicators of heavy-metal pollution in the Republic of Serbia. Concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd were determined in plant parts collected from areas with different degrees of metal pollution (Kosovska Mitrovica - industrial area and Leposavić - control area). Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in the plant depend on the plant species, the levels of the metals in the soil and air, the element species and bioavailiability, pH, cation exchange capacity, climacteric condition, vegetation period and multiple other factors. The highest amounts of heavy metals were found in the root of the sensitive Plantago major (Pb 660, Zn 2300 and Cd 33.25 μg g-1 d.w.) and less in the resistant Rumex acetosella. In over ground organs the highest amounts of heavy metals were found in the leaves (283 μg g-1 d.w. Pb) a...

2016

Environmental pollution with heavy metals is a global problem that concerns every part of the planet Earth. From this global environmental pollution framework doesn’t deviate neither Macedonia nor China. Many studies have been conducted in order to monitor the content of heavy metals in different parts of the biosphere of the two countries. The significantly worrying data were obtained in both cases; indicates the presence of higher content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Tl and Zn) in soils in Macedonia (Stafilov et al., 2014) and China (Wang et al., 2003). Furthermore, special importance is given on the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil and their bioaccumulation of different plant species used in the human dietary. Therefore, the main purpose of this project is, based on the predetermined data on contaminated areas to: 1) determine the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil 2) to determine their bioaccumulation in different types of plant foods that are planted...

Sustainability, 2024

Maintaining sufficient levels of plant nutrients in the soil and controlling certain heavy metals, which can be toxic to the environment, are critical to ensure sustainable agricultural production. The study aimed to assess the linkage of crop-specific agricultural practices established by farmers in the Kvemo Kartli region (Georgia) with metal accumulation in soils of agricultural lands being subject to influence from polluted irrigation water in the past. In particular, we tried to identify the primary sources of micro-nutrients, including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), and toxic elements such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), and the share of the contaminated irrigation water and other factors related to agricultural practices under different land uses, such as intensive and extensive arable farming, vineyards, orchards, and permanent pastures having the least disturbed soil. Based on principal component analysis, five primary sources were identified and categorized according to farmer interviews and previous studies conducted in the region. The results showed that increased concentrations of plant-available Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were mainly associated with irrigation water and intensive use of fungicides; Fe, Mn, and Ni were closely linked to several factors, such as the mineralogical composition of soils, minerals, and organic fertilizers inputs; and atmospheric deposition from diffuse sources, where exhausts from transport are probably the primary source. During our study, we attempted to differentiate irrigation water inputs from fungicides using simulation based on irrigation patterns and irrigation water quality on the one hand and fungicide application rates and their metal contents on the other. The simulation revealed that the intensive application of fungicides, especially in vineyards, is more significant in enriching soils with Cu and Zn than irrigation water. Identification of factorial dependences was supported by statistical analysis and application of several contamination assessment methods: contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), single-factor pollution index (PI), Nemerow's comprehensive pollution index (PIN), enrichment factor (EF), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo). Applied environmental indices indicate that the soils under the former and existing vineyards are the most enriched with Cu and Zn, highlighting the significance of agricultural practices on heavy metal accumulations in the soils of agricultural lands.

2007

Soil contamination with heavy metals - Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was studied in the main soil types of Imerti region. An attention was paid to diffusion pollution and metal distribution along the river valleys represent- ing the major flow paths for transporting different pollutants including heavy metals. The results of the laboratory analyses were compared to maximum permissible concentrations and guide values defined by Georgian legislation. An attempt was made to establish background concentration for heavy metals in studied soils and to use them as reference values in assessment of soil pollution. The comparison shows that the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn exceed their background contents in some soil samples. © 2007 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci.

BIO Web of Conferences

This article presents the results of studies of the accumulation of heavy metals in irrigated soils and crops grown in fields contaminated with heavy metals in a territory that has not previously been studied and its ecological state has not been assessed. The accumulation of heavy metals in irrigated soils and crops Panicum L-millet, Solanum lycopersicum - tomato, Citrullus lanatus - watermelon, Cucumis melo - melon, Capsicum annuum - bell pepper was determined. Based on the amount of accumulated elements of heavy metals Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, As in soil and crops, an assessment of their ecological state was carried out. The following accumulation of heavy metals in soil incisions is established: the cadmium (Cd) element accumulates in a small amount, lead (Pb) - 15.2 mg/kg, nickel (Ni) - 34.2 mg/kg, chromium (Cr) - 43.3 mg/kg. From agricultural crops in the ears of millet manganese (Mn) accumulates in the amount of 12.63 mg/kg, copper (Cu) - 9.79 mg/kg, cadmium (Cd) - 0.068 mg/kg...

2010

The uptake of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) by maize, oat and sorghum plants cultivated, under field conditions, in industrially polluted soils was studied. The experimental plots were situated at different distances (0.1, 2.0 and 15.0 km) from the source of pollution - the Non-Ferrous Metal Works near Plovdiv, Bulgaria. On reaching commercial ripeness the crops were gathered and the contents of heavy metals in their different parts - roots, stems, leaves and grains, were determined after dry ashing. The quantitative measurements were carried out with ICP. A clearly distinguished species peculiarity existed in the accumulation of heavy metals in the vegetative and reproductive organs of the studied crops. Sorghum plants accumulated larger heavy metal quantities compared to maize and oat plants, as the major part of heavy metals was retained by roots and a very small part was translocated to epigeous parts. The studied crops may be considered as metal-tolerant crops and may be cultivated on soils which are low, medium or highly contaminated with lead, zinc and cadmium, as they do not show a tendency of accumulating these elements in epigeous parts and grains above the maximum permissible concentrations. The possible use of aboveground mass and grains for animal food guarantees the economic expedience upon the selection of these crops. Acknowledgment: This work is supported by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education, Project DO-02-87/08.

CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water, 2010

The investigation area is located to the east of Kütahya-Tavşanlı and, covers an area about 150 km 2 . The units cropping out in the study area comprise of metamorphic, volcanic, and sedimentary rocks ranging from Upper Paleozoic to Quaternary. There are some polymetallic ore deposits represented by silver, zinc, lead, and antimony deposits and some enrichments related to them such as As, Cd, Tl, Cu, Mn, Ba, and Sr around the Aktepe at the southeast of the study area. In order to investigate the heavy metal contents and contamination in soil and plants, some leaves, branches, and fruits of trees (Salix, oak: Quercus sp., pine: Pinus sp., apple: Malus communis, walnut: Juglans regia, poplar: Populus sp., plane: Platanus orientalis, pear: Pyrus communis, oleaster: Elaeagnus angustifolia) and some herbaceous plants like prickle and meadow samples have been collected and subjected to geochemical analysis. Mean element concentrations of soil samples are 0.7 ppm Ag, 82.6 ppm Pb, 165.3 ppm Zn, and 8.5 ppm Sb. The concentration of As, Cd, Tl, Cu, Mn, Ba, and Sr are 203.3, 1.5, 1.7, 32.6, 1059.5, 718.4, and 289.6 ppm, respectively. With respect to plants the average heavy metal concentrations are 0.14 ppm Ag, 2.49 ppm Pb, 52.34 ppm Zn, and 1.05 ppm Sb and the average concentration of As, Cd, Tl, Cu, Mn, Ba, and Sr are 4.41, 0.64, 0.19, 6.54, 119.80, 39.46 versus 41.21 ppm, respectively. Element distributions of soil and plants depend on to the distance from the present Ag-Pb-Zn-Sb deposits. Element concentrations of plants differ depending on not only plant type like tree and herbaceous plants but also the types of samples such as leaves, branches, or fruits of trees. Especially leaves of trees and herbaceous plants have relatively higher element concentrations. Therefore, people who and animals which live in this area and benefit from these soil and plants have vital risks.

African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2014

The levels of some heavy metals were investigated in selected edible potions of the vegetables; Amarathus caudatus (Spinach) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (Rosella) are grown in Uba area along the Yedzaram River in North Eastern Adamawa State, Nigeria. All samples were randomly collected from two different gardens. The levels of the heavy metals, (Cu, Fe, Cd, Cr and Zn) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) (BUK 210 model). In all the samples analyzed, Cd and Cr were not detected. The levels of heavy metals in Farm A for H. sabdariffa leaves ranges from Cu (30.00 ± 0.15 mg/kg to 31.00 ± 0.18 mg/kg), Fe (37.39 ± 0.02 mg/kg to 48.47 ± 0.10 mg/kg), Zn (13.00 ± 0.01 mg/kg to 25.50 ± 0.48 mg/kg), respectively. In Spinach, the results ranged from Cu (34.33 ± 0.42 mg/kg to 34.50 ± 0.05 mg/kg), Fe (31.72 ± 0.71 mg/kg to 43.33 ± 0.02 mg/kg), Zn (21.17 ± 0.14 mg/kg to 10.83 ± 0.17 mg/kg), respectively. The data were analyzed with t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the levels of the heavy metals in the vegetables obtained from Farms A and B. The order of the metal contamination in the vegetables was Fe > Cu > Zn in Farm A and Cu> Fe> Zn in Farm B. The elevated levels of metals in vegetables in the two gardens could be attributed to excessive usage of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals and of course the environmental factors of the areas. The results were however lower than the published threshold values considered toxic for mature plant tissue, except Fe which has higher values. The consumption of these vegetables as food may not pose possible health hazards to human at the time of the study.